I think I'll become a fisherman

Trip Start May 31, 2005

Trip End Dec 25, 2005

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Flag of Italy Cinque Terra, Italy
Tuesday, June 21, 2005

If you are a hiker and like the outdoors and the water- come here. This place, the Cinque Terra, is made up of five remote fishing villages built on the coast of Italy. They are connected by a train, but no cars in any of the villages. Its just awesome. Spent all day today hiking between the villages and swimming in each of the 'beaches' (some just have pools of water that you access through rocks). The water feels awesome after hiking.

This place was one that I didn't hear about until too late on my last trip. So it was on my list to get to. They say accommodation is tight, especially in the summer. Well I had been on the train all day and night coming from Barcelona, and I get to the main town and the tourist office says she has one room in someones house, but I didnt like the price so i ask if there is anything else. She says theres a hostel in the fourth town and most very likely has room

Grapevines

. Well before I had come, I had contacted the hostel in Cinque Terra because it was supposed to be awesome, but of course they say they are booked. Well I figured this is another hostel. So I take the not so frequent trains between the villages and get to the hostel. It doesn't open reception until 5pm, there is a sign on the door that says full, and three people waiting outside hoping the sign is lying. I asked one of them what they were going to do if the hostel was booked, and they said they found some hotel down the street that they might split with the person they are traveling with. Then another person said they got to the tourist office half hour after me and they said everything is booked. Well at this point i'm exhausted, have been looking at the water all day wanting to go in, and don't want to see a train. The hostel opens and says yes they are closed, and one girl and I go to the hotel to see if they do have room. They do have one double for one night. The girl says she has to go back and check with her friend - I say, well are you going to take it because otherwise I will. Well I take it, paying more than I wanted to but I would have paid anything at that point. Turns out it was a B&B, very nice too. Just for kicks I go back to the hostel about an hour later and ask if they have room for the next two nights, and as luck has it, they have one female spot! So it all worked out beautifully and in the end in the total for the three nights I'm paying about what I would have paid if I would have taken the first room offered to me at the tourist office.

I'm styaing in the more quiet of the towns, and I like it so much. Just sitting on the balconys watching the sun rise and set on the water through the little towns are awesome. The place is getting more and more touristy, so if you are going to come I'd suggest soon. They've turned the whole area into a national park though, to try and preserve it. I sincerely hope it doesn't get anymore touristy. I'll post pictures when I can because this place is just gorgeous and full of people who like ot hike and swim. I've decided I'll most definitely need to find a husband who likes hiking and the water, otherwise it just won't work:)

Places here close during the day and open when they want. There's actually a local train strike on Friday, so I'll be leaving on Thursday, although I bet it would be nice and quiet here on Friday.

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